A gay Egyptian man denied asylum in the United States and profiled in the Washington Blade newspaper in January, has now won asylum based on the recent history of anti-gay harassment in his home country.

An Egyptian appeals court in Damanhour, found the "Damanhour Five" not-guilty of all charges. The five men had been convicted in March 2002 of consensual homosexual conduct, and had been sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment and 3 years' probation.

The Jerusalem Open House is appealing for the urgent assistance of international human rights organizations in the case of a gay Jerusalemite couple in danger of being permanently torn from each other in view of the escalating situation in the region.

An Egyptian court will consider the appeal of 23 gay men in March. These men were convicted in November 2001 to prison sentences between 3 and 5 years. All those convicted made use of the possibility to apply for appeal.